In some situations, learning can be a means to an end, such as when learners seek a degree or certification to increase job opportunities. But is this all there is to it? What are the intangible effects of learning on a person’s happiness, sense of self, and personal growth?
Becoming an Engaged and Enlighted Citizen
According to Forbes’ writer Brandon Busteed in his 2019 article, What’s the Purpose of College? Many people believe the purpose of college is both to help students get good jobs and to prepare students for success in life. In paragraph two, Busteed defines this as “an engaged and enlightened citizen capable of thinking critically and communicating clearly, ultimately able to thrive in their well-being.” He later links this to how graduates who find purpose in their work are ten times more likely to feel they are thriving in their well-being. Many people also reflect on college as a time for learning valuable life skills around time management, health, relationships, and developing an identity, which can be summed up by the popular phrase “adulting.” Of course, many of these skills can be gained without a college education, but this is a clear example of when the value of an educational program goes far beyond the knowledge gained.
Understanding Other Perspectives
Another byproduct of learning is exposing the learner to multiple perspectives. Over the summer, I read the book Educated, written by Tara Westover in 2018. Educated is a fascinating memoir where Westover described her personal transformation through education. Westover grew up in an isolated, survivalist, and sometimes violent family with no formal K-12 education. Her drive to understand the world led her to different universities and countries, and she eventually earned her Ph.D. at Cambridge University. Most strikingly is the change in how Westover views the world. Education gave her the opportunity to understand perspectives beyond what she was taught in childhood, allowing her to make her own conclusions and life choices. In less extreme examples, it is common for education to cause people to encounter students from different ethnicities, countries, regions, or socioeconomic backgrounds. This often leads to increased empathy for others and understanding of the many different life experiences there can be. In summary, education widens horizons.
Building Confidence and Self-Esteem
Finally, learning builds self-esteem and confidence- leading to an increased internal locus of control. The Expectancy-Value theory explains motivation requires both confidence in success and the perceived value of meeting a goal. This shows the importance of building confidence in the learner by scaffolding and gradually increasing difficulty. When a learner approaches a new challenge, she can look back at past assignments and accomplishments to show evidence that she is likely to master this one. Education allows students to push themselves, be proud of their successes, and apply that confidence to tasks in the future. This increases their perception of capability, resulting in an “internal locus of control.” An internal locus of control means that an individual believes he or she has the ability to impact his or her life. In the 2018 book The Self-Driven Child, authors William Stixrud and Ned Johnson explain that a low sense of control is one of the greatest factors in all mental health problems. They describe how an internal locus of control is the key ingredient in a happy, successful life.
These examples show how the impact of learning goes far beyond obtaining information and can have a drastic, positive impact on both society and individuals. So, what kind of factors facilitate growth through learning, and how can we use this as an opportunity in our professional organizations?
References
Busteed, B. (2019, April 10). What’s the purpose of college? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonbusteed/2019/04/10/whats-the-purpose-of-college/?sh=76c7e27f354e
Stixrud, W. & Johnson, N. (2018, February 13). The self-driven child: The science and sense of giving your kids more control over their lives. Viking.
Westover, T. (2018, February 18). Educated. Penguin Random House LLC.